Part 3 of this semester's catch-up posts:
_______________________
Cloudy skies, but "Tudo bem!"
(February 27 - March 7, 2010)
When March arrived, we couldn't believe it was already time to travel again -- we had been back in BA less than a month and had returned from our EFT just a week earlier! However, due to our coordination with Malibu's schedule, the first week of March was our Spring Break (though ironically, it began just a few weeks before the Southern Hemisphere's autumnal equinox). My best friends Hannah and Tyler and I had planned an incredible trip to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and couldn't be more excited for a week of beautiful beaches and fun in the sun.
Despite our attempts to plan ahead (we booked flights & hotel in November!), there were a few key roadblocks that stood in the way of our "perfect" vacation. For starters, when we began the process of obtaining a travel visa to Brazil, we encountered one of the most complicated and frustrating things we've experienced during our entire time in Buenos Aires. The Brazilian government recently instated a rule limiting the number of travel visas issued per day to 10. In a city of 15 million people, in the peak of travel season, with 25 other Pepperdine students trying to get Brazilian visas as well, and with Rio de Janeiro as one of the most popular South American travel destinations, we knew overcoming this bureaucracy would be no easy task. Thus, we woke ourselves up at 5am, arrived at the Brazilian Consulate at 5:45, and were first in the line of 25 people when the consulate opened at 9. After our fair share of confusion, waiting, technological difficulties, and more waiting, we finally received the receipts that guaranteed us a key element of a successful trip to Brazil: legal permission to enter the country.
With visas in hand and more excitement than we could contain, we checked The Weather Channel for an update on the our trip's forecast. And here we encountered roadblock #2. Thankfully, there were no predicted delays for our flight on Saturday; however, the forecast did show thunderstorms for all of Sunday-Thursday. Despite this obvious a pin to our "best Spring Break EVER" balloon, we decided to keep a positive attitude and hope for the sunny skies despite the meteorologists' opinion.
Our flight left early Saturday morning, and after two flights, 6 hours in the São Paulo airport, and one large realization that our Spanish would be of no use to us in a Portuguese-speaking country, we finally arrived in Rio de Janeiro. During our drive from the airport to the Sheraton Hotel in Liblon (a beach just down from the infamous beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema), we talked excitedly about what the next 5 days had in store and crossed our fingers that Weather.com's most recent forecasts of rain would prove to be erroneous.
We woke up Sunday morning to bright but cloudy skies, and hurried outside to soak up all the sunshine we could. Just minutes after settling outside, however, the sky became ominously overcast, and the dark clouds in the distance inched closer and closer. We stayed outside in hopes of sunshine, but deep down, we all knew our luck would soon run out. As predicted, the rains came in strong Sunday night, and they stayed until we left on Thursday. There were times when the sky was overcast and it was warm out, so we did get a bit of time on the beach and by the pool. However, besides the 15 minutes of blue skies during our first morning in Brazil, I can honestly say we didn't see the sun for a single minute throughout the entire rest of our trip. We were extremely disappointed by the weather's turn for the worst, but it was a great reminder that as much as we can plan, there really is something greater in control of what goes on for us!
Despite the crummy weather, we still experienced much of what Rio had to offer. We explored the local streets, fairs, and shops, and we visited Cristo el Redentor in the pouring rain. We ate traditional Brazilian barbecue (think Fogo de Chão) accompanied by authentic Caipirinhas, enjoyed the happy-go-lucky nature of the Brazilian people, and appropriately hummed "The Girl From Ipanema" throughout the entire trip. Our failed plans for a week on the sand caused us to think outside the box for entertainment in a beach town; we all qualified as "troopers," though (as Mom would call us), and enjoyed each other's company so much more than we could've expected. We laughed endlessly, took our misfortunes as good stories for the future, and by the end of the week found ourselves having totally adopted the Brazilian ideology behind "tudo bem" -- all is well!
From Rio de Janeiro, we met up with our friend Erin, whose plans to Chile had been disrupted by the earthquake in Santiago on the eve of their planned departure, and headed to the Argentine-Brazilian border to visit Iguazu Falls. Despite the 18-hour (one-way) bus ride, Iguazu was an absolute redeemer to the the Brazilian rain of the days before. We soaked up tons of sun, took a boat ride under the falls themselves, and spent hours in the Argentine jungle watching butterflies and other wildlife, all the while in utter awe of the incredible creation before us.
Upon returning back to Buenos Aires, we all mutually deemed our entire week a great success. We saw a new aspect of the Argentine landscape, crossed the border into an entirely different country, culture, and language, and made incredible memories that will last us a lifetime. Though parts didn't go according to our plans, we learned the beauty of taking each experience one day at a time, maintaining grateful hearts despite the trials, and trusting in the redemptive sunlight awaiting us at the end of the road.
"Let us acknowledge the LORD;
let us press on to acknowledge him.
As surely as the sun rises, he will appear;
he will come to us like the winter rains,
like the spring rains that water the earth."
- Hosea 6:3
_______________________
To view pictures from Spring Break, click here.
Love from abroad,
Margaret
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
Second Semester Catch-Up: Installment 2
Part 2 of this semester's catch-up posts:
_____________________
Patagonian Mountains' Majesty
(February 13-18, 2010)
Just two short weeks after Mom & Dad left, it was already time to leave again. We barely had time to adjust to our class schedules before departing for this semester's EFT, but I guarantee none of us was complaining! With 10 new students joining us in January, we knew our Educational Field Trip would be the perfect time to really bond and incorporate them into our already close-knit group, as well as allow us all a refreshing while away from the rush of city life.
On Saturday, February 13, all 55 students plus our program director Rafa, his assistant Maria, and our incredible travel agent Haro left for 6 fantastic days in Patagonia. Our first destination was the beautiful mountain town of El Calafate. Our first full day of the trip was spent entirely in Los Glaciares National Park, where we were able to see the Perito Moreno Glacier -- the only glacier in the world that, in contrast to every other glacier's trend of receding, maintains its size year after year. After several hours of viewing the glacier from the park's numerous vantage points, we strapped on our crampons and took a "mini-trekking" expedition and hiked upon the glacier itself! The grandeur of the glacier was absolutely breathtaking. Knowing that the ice upon which we were standing was upwards of 500 years old gave our whole group a humbling perspective on the incredible magnitude of the beauty we were seeing and experiencing. Our second day was spent on a boat tour throughout Lago Argentino, where we viewed other parts of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, including two of the other glaciers in the national park (Upsala Glacier & Spegazzini Glacier). For the second day in a row, I found myself absolutely awestruck by the magnitude of the creation before me. The same God who had created the giant ice sculptures before me had chosen to make me, instead, in His very image! What a testament to our intrinsic value as children of His kingdom.
Our time in Calafate no doubt set the tone for the rest of our trip to be just as awe-inspiring as days 1 & 2. On the third day, we left for the more secluded mountain "village" of El Chaltén. El Chaltén, also in within Los Glaciares National Park, is the home of the infamous Mount Fitz Roy, a peak regarded as one of the "ultimate" climbs by experienced mountaineers due to its threatening sheer granite faces. Upon our arrival in Chaltén, we learned that to actually see Fitz Roy is an incredible rarity, as more often than not it is surrounded by clouds and fog. However, uncharacteristically for mid-summer, our timing appeared to be perfect: we spent our entire first day in Chaltén under clear blue skies with the perfectly visible mountain peak as our magnificent backdrop. We spent the next few days hiking the mountains surrounding the peak, allowing the scenery to recharge us from the exhausting city life of Buenos Aires. The highlight of my trip was my experience on the optional 8-hour hike, during which 16 of us climbed up to Fitz Roy's best vantage point and the glacial lake of Laguna De Los Tres. Though the weather took a turn for the worst and left us spending the majority of the hike in the freezing rain, the experience was one I wouldn't have traded for anything. Rather than complaining through the cold and rain, we pressed on to reach the top, all the while allowing ourselves to treasure the clear memories of Mount Fitz Roy from days before.
The once-in-a-lifetime experiences our EFT provided made our departure from El Chaltén seem to come all too soon. However, the memories we made during our Patagonian adventures will surely not be soon forgotten. Through both the sunlight and the storm, we dedicated ourselves to soaking in every bit of the nature around us. The fury of a mountain storm matched with the majesty of the towering peaks showed us our insignificance to nature's immensity, yet reminded us all of our unfathomable worth in the eyes of our Creator.
"O come, let us sing for joy to the LORD,
Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation.
For the LORD is a great God
And a great King above all gods,
In whose hand are the depths of the earth,
The peaks of the mountains are His also.
Come, let us worship and bow down,
Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker,
For He is our God."
- Psalm 95:1-7a
_____________________
To view pictures from our Educational Field Trip to Calafate and Chalten, click here.
Love from abroad,
Margaret
_____________________
Patagonian Mountains' Majesty
(February 13-18, 2010)
Just two short weeks after Mom & Dad left, it was already time to leave again. We barely had time to adjust to our class schedules before departing for this semester's EFT, but I guarantee none of us was complaining! With 10 new students joining us in January, we knew our Educational Field Trip would be the perfect time to really bond and incorporate them into our already close-knit group, as well as allow us all a refreshing while away from the rush of city life.
On Saturday, February 13, all 55 students plus our program director Rafa, his assistant Maria, and our incredible travel agent Haro left for 6 fantastic days in Patagonia. Our first destination was the beautiful mountain town of El Calafate. Our first full day of the trip was spent entirely in Los Glaciares National Park, where we were able to see the Perito Moreno Glacier -- the only glacier in the world that, in contrast to every other glacier's trend of receding, maintains its size year after year. After several hours of viewing the glacier from the park's numerous vantage points, we strapped on our crampons and took a "mini-trekking" expedition and hiked upon the glacier itself! The grandeur of the glacier was absolutely breathtaking. Knowing that the ice upon which we were standing was upwards of 500 years old gave our whole group a humbling perspective on the incredible magnitude of the beauty we were seeing and experiencing. Our second day was spent on a boat tour throughout Lago Argentino, where we viewed other parts of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, including two of the other glaciers in the national park (Upsala Glacier & Spegazzini Glacier). For the second day in a row, I found myself absolutely awestruck by the magnitude of the creation before me. The same God who had created the giant ice sculptures before me had chosen to make me, instead, in His very image! What a testament to our intrinsic value as children of His kingdom.
Our time in Calafate no doubt set the tone for the rest of our trip to be just as awe-inspiring as days 1 & 2. On the third day, we left for the more secluded mountain "village" of El Chaltén. El Chaltén, also in within Los Glaciares National Park, is the home of the infamous Mount Fitz Roy, a peak regarded as one of the "ultimate" climbs by experienced mountaineers due to its threatening sheer granite faces. Upon our arrival in Chaltén, we learned that to actually see Fitz Roy is an incredible rarity, as more often than not it is surrounded by clouds and fog. However, uncharacteristically for mid-summer, our timing appeared to be perfect: we spent our entire first day in Chaltén under clear blue skies with the perfectly visible mountain peak as our magnificent backdrop. We spent the next few days hiking the mountains surrounding the peak, allowing the scenery to recharge us from the exhausting city life of Buenos Aires. The highlight of my trip was my experience on the optional 8-hour hike, during which 16 of us climbed up to Fitz Roy's best vantage point and the glacial lake of Laguna De Los Tres. Though the weather took a turn for the worst and left us spending the majority of the hike in the freezing rain, the experience was one I wouldn't have traded for anything. Rather than complaining through the cold and rain, we pressed on to reach the top, all the while allowing ourselves to treasure the clear memories of Mount Fitz Roy from days before.
The once-in-a-lifetime experiences our EFT provided made our departure from El Chaltén seem to come all too soon. However, the memories we made during our Patagonian adventures will surely not be soon forgotten. Through both the sunlight and the storm, we dedicated ourselves to soaking in every bit of the nature around us. The fury of a mountain storm matched with the majesty of the towering peaks showed us our insignificance to nature's immensity, yet reminded us all of our unfathomable worth in the eyes of our Creator.
"O come, let us sing for joy to the LORD,
Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation.
For the LORD is a great God
And a great King above all gods,
In whose hand are the depths of the earth,
The peaks of the mountains are His also.
Come, let us worship and bow down,
Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker,
For He is our God."
- Psalm 95:1-7a
_____________________
To view pictures from our Educational Field Trip to Calafate and Chalten, click here.
Love from abroad,
Margaret
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Second Semester Catch-Up: Installment 1
For starters, I promise I had every intention of picking my blogging back up sometime within the past 9 weeks. However, this semester apparently had other plans for me. Ever since setting foot back on South American soil, life has been one crazy adventure after the other.
Here begins a 4-part recount of the happenings of my second semester abroad in Argentina.
_____________________
Molly & Miles' Argentine Adventures
(January 18-28, 2010)
It started with an incredible 8-day trip all over Argentina in the lovely company of my wonderful parents. We spent two nights in Buenos Aires, during which they got to experience an authentic Argentine parrilla (steakhouse), take a wine-and-dine tour of the three of the city's finest restaurants, visit the Recoleta Cemetery (and the mausoleum of the infamous Eva Peron), and best of all, meet my homestay family! It was such an incredible experience for my American parents to meet my Argentine padres. The introductions were so long-awaited and enthusiastic, and it was all-in-all just heartwarming to see each couple so excited to meet the other. It was obvious that seeing where I sleep, eat my meals, and with whom I spend my time at home in Buenos Aires gave Mom & Dad a huge sense of comfort, despite my distance from home, and gave them a far better understanding of the experience I've had during my time in Argentina.
From Buenos Aires, we went to the Chubut province of Patagonia, where we spent three nights at the El Pedral Lodge, right on the beautiful rocky coast of the Atlantic Ocean. We saw oodles of Patagonian wildlife, from elephant seals to 800,000 Magellanic penguins to an entire sea lion colony, pups and all! (Seriously, apart from Cade, the cutest things I've ever seen...). We read and relaxed and enjoyed each other's company to the fullest during our three days in Patagonia.
Upon leaving Patagonia, we headed to the Argentina wine country of Mendoza. Though now world-renown for its Malbec, the Mendoza region only became internationally recognized for its vineyards within the past 5 years or so. Thus, many of the wineries are still completely family-owned and take great pride in their small-batch wine productions. The wineries we toured during our time in Mendoza were clearly run out of sheer passion for their work, a sentiment I believe is far too rare in the corporate world we are used to. To further enjoy all that Mendoza had to offer, we spent an entire day hiking and zip-lining in the Andes mountains. The scenery was just breathtaking, and I felt like through that aspect of the trip, Mom & Dad were able to experience at least a taste of what I did and saw during my trip to the Peruvian Andes last fall.
We enjoyed our time in the in the wine country immensely, but alas, by day 7 of our travels, it was time to return to Buenos Aires for my intensive Spanish classes and the beginning of a new semester. On the last day of the trip, Mom & Dad came by Casa Holden and were able to meet many of the friends they'd heard so much about over the past several months. We enjoyed one last treat together -- dulce de leche helado from my favorite ice cream shop -- and before I knew it, it was time for them to go.
Saying goodbye to my parents was harder this time than any other time I remember. Perhaps it was because it came abruptly at the end of a once-in-a-lifetime vacation; perhaps it was because I had somewhat adjusted to being in Argentina with them as part of the equation; or, perhaps it was because that goodbye came at a time when we felt closer than ever. The 8 days we traveled through Argentina truly brought my relationship with my parents to an entirely different level. For once, I was the "pro" showing them the ropes -- telling them about local customs, acting as their translator, and showing them a country that we contrastingly viewed as "second-home" and utterly foreign.
Our trip through Argentina allowed my parents to witness, at least in part, what my life had been for the past semester. They finally understood that when I told them my favorite part of life here was the kindness of the locals, it wasn't a diplomatic answer -- it was the honest truth about the kind of people that live here. They understood exactly what I meant when I said I wouldn't trade my homestay parents for a bigger room or more convenient location. Ultimately, they saw what a diamond in the rough this country is: the breathtaking landscapes, the delicious cuisine, and the hospitality that rivals that of Texas pride.
Though saying goodbye was the hardest yet, we all knew that an incredible semester was in store. We will forever cherish the blessing of the memories we made that week and can look forward to reminiscing about them for years to come. For the timebeing until my return home, Skype will have to tide us over. But we all know we've got plenty of living to do until then.
_____________________
To view pictures from our week of Argentine adventures, click here.
Miss you all!
Love from abroad,
Margaret
Here begins a 4-part recount of the happenings of my second semester abroad in Argentina.
_____________________
Molly & Miles' Argentine Adventures
(January 18-28, 2010)
It started with an incredible 8-day trip all over Argentina in the lovely company of my wonderful parents. We spent two nights in Buenos Aires, during which they got to experience an authentic Argentine parrilla (steakhouse), take a wine-and-dine tour of the three of the city's finest restaurants, visit the Recoleta Cemetery (and the mausoleum of the infamous Eva Peron), and best of all, meet my homestay family! It was such an incredible experience for my American parents to meet my Argentine padres. The introductions were so long-awaited and enthusiastic, and it was all-in-all just heartwarming to see each couple so excited to meet the other. It was obvious that seeing where I sleep, eat my meals, and with whom I spend my time at home in Buenos Aires gave Mom & Dad a huge sense of comfort, despite my distance from home, and gave them a far better understanding of the experience I've had during my time in Argentina.
From Buenos Aires, we went to the Chubut province of Patagonia, where we spent three nights at the El Pedral Lodge, right on the beautiful rocky coast of the Atlantic Ocean. We saw oodles of Patagonian wildlife, from elephant seals to 800,000 Magellanic penguins to an entire sea lion colony, pups and all! (Seriously, apart from Cade, the cutest things I've ever seen...). We read and relaxed and enjoyed each other's company to the fullest during our three days in Patagonia.
Upon leaving Patagonia, we headed to the Argentina wine country of Mendoza. Though now world-renown for its Malbec, the Mendoza region only became internationally recognized for its vineyards within the past 5 years or so. Thus, many of the wineries are still completely family-owned and take great pride in their small-batch wine productions. The wineries we toured during our time in Mendoza were clearly run out of sheer passion for their work, a sentiment I believe is far too rare in the corporate world we are used to. To further enjoy all that Mendoza had to offer, we spent an entire day hiking and zip-lining in the Andes mountains. The scenery was just breathtaking, and I felt like through that aspect of the trip, Mom & Dad were able to experience at least a taste of what I did and saw during my trip to the Peruvian Andes last fall.
We enjoyed our time in the in the wine country immensely, but alas, by day 7 of our travels, it was time to return to Buenos Aires for my intensive Spanish classes and the beginning of a new semester. On the last day of the trip, Mom & Dad came by Casa Holden and were able to meet many of the friends they'd heard so much about over the past several months. We enjoyed one last treat together -- dulce de leche helado from my favorite ice cream shop -- and before I knew it, it was time for them to go.
Saying goodbye to my parents was harder this time than any other time I remember. Perhaps it was because it came abruptly at the end of a once-in-a-lifetime vacation; perhaps it was because I had somewhat adjusted to being in Argentina with them as part of the equation; or, perhaps it was because that goodbye came at a time when we felt closer than ever. The 8 days we traveled through Argentina truly brought my relationship with my parents to an entirely different level. For once, I was the "pro" showing them the ropes -- telling them about local customs, acting as their translator, and showing them a country that we contrastingly viewed as "second-home" and utterly foreign.
Our trip through Argentina allowed my parents to witness, at least in part, what my life had been for the past semester. They finally understood that when I told them my favorite part of life here was the kindness of the locals, it wasn't a diplomatic answer -- it was the honest truth about the kind of people that live here. They understood exactly what I meant when I said I wouldn't trade my homestay parents for a bigger room or more convenient location. Ultimately, they saw what a diamond in the rough this country is: the breathtaking landscapes, the delicious cuisine, and the hospitality that rivals that of Texas pride.
Though saying goodbye was the hardest yet, we all knew that an incredible semester was in store. We will forever cherish the blessing of the memories we made that week and can look forward to reminiscing about them for years to come. For the timebeing until my return home, Skype will have to tide us over. But we all know we've got plenty of living to do until then.
_____________________
To view pictures from our week of Argentine adventures, click here.
Miss you all!
Love from abroad,
Margaret
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Heading Home for the Holidays!
In C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia, the land of Narnia is described as a place where it's always winter, but never Christmas. Here in Buenos Aires, I seem to have encountered the opposite problem: though my calendar says we are rapidly approaching Christmas Day, the current season is certainly not winter. Alas, such is life in the Southern Hemisphere, where December is a summer month. Though I'll admit that a summertime Christmas is great in theory -- stories of celebrations at the beach, fireworks, and the like explain why Argentines still deem this is their favorite time of year -- this winterless Christmas is a bit disappointing in reality. There's just something about passing store windows in which Christmas trees are the backdrop to mannequins flaunting bikinis that just doesn't sit well with me. Likewise, humming "Sleigh Ride" or "Winter Wonderland" in 90-degree weather makes caroling seem more of a joke than a joy. However, in light of the cultural & seasonal differences the beginning of the so-called "holiday season" has brought, the past several weeks in BA have been a wonderful start to what I know will be an even better holiday season at home.
Initially, the thought of celebrating Thanksgiving away from home for the first time really weighed on my heart. I hated the thought of missing the precious milestone of Cade's first family holiday, even moreso than the the thought of missing my first A&M vs. t.u. game in 19 years (which, you can imagine, I found practically unbearable). But, as an international round-trip flight for a mere 72 hours back in the States was utterly out of the question, I decided celebrating El Día de la Acción de Gracias away from home, and in a country that doesn't actually celebrate it, no less, didn't have to put a damper on my holiday cheer.
As soon as our program director announced that the Tuesday before Thanksgiving (as most of the group left town over the break) would be our official group Thanksgiving celebration, holiday preparations began. An assortment of recipes was collected, cooking roles were delegated, and just as we'd wished, the holiday cheer began to spread. After hours upon hours in the kitchen, when all was said and done, Casa Holden smelled like, well -- home. There were favorite recipes from nearly everyone in the group, creating enough food to feed the 70+ guests at our Thanksgiving feast (including two special American visitors, NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy and U.S. Ambassador to Argentina Vilma Martinez). Though we all admit the turkey and dressing weren't quite like Mom's, we treasured the fact that all 54 students, plus our program directors, professors, and visitors were able to come together and celebrate. Our Thanksgiving celebration was the perfect opportunity for us to give thanks for and remember each of the incredible experiences we've shared this semester, and that was truly home enough for all of us.
After class on Wednesday, several friends and I left BA to spend the weekend in Córdoba, a province to the northwest of Buenos Aires. We stayed at the 200-year-old Estancia Ongamira and had an incredible weekend filled with hikes, horseback rides, exceptional food (they even surprised us with a little "piece" of home -- homemade pumpkin pie, which doesn't even exist down here -- for Thursday's dessert!). Overall, our time in Córdoba was the perfect way to escape the hustle & bustle of busy BA and enjoy rest up before the crunch time of semester's end. Now, as yesterday marked our last day of classes, we're all faced with finding the balance between writing and studying and enjoying our last weekend here before we leave for a month and a half. Again, I'm amazed at how quickly the time has flown! I am equally as grateful, though, that I can look back and see the incredible ways in which our group has changed, bonded, and grown over the past 3 months. We started as 54 students with nearly nothing in common besides our interest in studying abroad in Argentina. Now, an entire semester later, we find ourselves to truly have grown into a family. We have experienced life abroad together in the rawest of forms, and we have seen that each of us has much more to teach and to learn than we ever could have foreseen. Better yet, we are only halfway through our time in this incredible place; there is certainly much, much more in store for us, and I am so excited to see how that plays out next semester.
Just as I have been thrilled to cherish my time here, I likewise look forward to cherishing every moment of my time at home. Thoughts of going grocery shopping and understanding where and what everything is; of getting a haircut without fear that a minor mis-translation will end up as a mullet; of ordering in a restaurant and knowing exactly what the waiter will bring -- well, I'd be lying if I said these thoughts weren't grounds for quite a bit of excitement for my return to the States. But more than those conveniences of daily life, I am ecstatic for the refreshment that I know reuniting with you, my precious friends and family, will bring. Skype and e-mail have made communication this semester so much easier, but I haven't forgotten that nothing replaces real, face-to-face, tangible interaction. My Thanksgiving abroad was a wonderful one, but I have no doubt that my ever-nearing Christmas at home will be even better. After all, there really is no place like home for the holidays!
As we gather together this Christmas season, may we remember the glorious birth of our Lord and Savior, the greatest joy the world has ever seen. May we be humbled as the traveling parents, awestruck as the fearful shepherds, and devoted as the searching magi. May we seek wisdom from our Wonderful Counselor, trust in the power of our Mighty God, have faith in the unchanging nature of our Everlasting Father, and find rest in our knowledge of the Prince of Peace. Above all, may we kneel at the manger and worship the Name above all names as we call His name Jesus.
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God,
Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever."
- Isaiah 9:6-7a
Christmas blessings from far and near to you and all of yours,
Margaret
Initially, the thought of celebrating Thanksgiving away from home for the first time really weighed on my heart. I hated the thought of missing the precious milestone of Cade's first family holiday, even moreso than the the thought of missing my first A&M vs. t.u. game in 19 years (which, you can imagine, I found practically unbearable). But, as an international round-trip flight for a mere 72 hours back in the States was utterly out of the question, I decided celebrating El Día de la Acción de Gracias away from home, and in a country that doesn't actually celebrate it, no less, didn't have to put a damper on my holiday cheer.
As soon as our program director announced that the Tuesday before Thanksgiving (as most of the group left town over the break) would be our official group Thanksgiving celebration, holiday preparations began. An assortment of recipes was collected, cooking roles were delegated, and just as we'd wished, the holiday cheer began to spread. After hours upon hours in the kitchen, when all was said and done, Casa Holden smelled like, well -- home. There were favorite recipes from nearly everyone in the group, creating enough food to feed the 70+ guests at our Thanksgiving feast (including two special American visitors, NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy and U.S. Ambassador to Argentina Vilma Martinez). Though we all admit the turkey and dressing weren't quite like Mom's, we treasured the fact that all 54 students, plus our program directors, professors, and visitors were able to come together and celebrate. Our Thanksgiving celebration was the perfect opportunity for us to give thanks for and remember each of the incredible experiences we've shared this semester, and that was truly home enough for all of us.
After class on Wednesday, several friends and I left BA to spend the weekend in Córdoba, a province to the northwest of Buenos Aires. We stayed at the 200-year-old Estancia Ongamira and had an incredible weekend filled with hikes, horseback rides, exceptional food (they even surprised us with a little "piece" of home -- homemade pumpkin pie, which doesn't even exist down here -- for Thursday's dessert!). Overall, our time in Córdoba was the perfect way to escape the hustle & bustle of busy BA and enjoy rest up before the crunch time of semester's end. Now, as yesterday marked our last day of classes, we're all faced with finding the balance between writing and studying and enjoying our last weekend here before we leave for a month and a half. Again, I'm amazed at how quickly the time has flown! I am equally as grateful, though, that I can look back and see the incredible ways in which our group has changed, bonded, and grown over the past 3 months. We started as 54 students with nearly nothing in common besides our interest in studying abroad in Argentina. Now, an entire semester later, we find ourselves to truly have grown into a family. We have experienced life abroad together in the rawest of forms, and we have seen that each of us has much more to teach and to learn than we ever could have foreseen. Better yet, we are only halfway through our time in this incredible place; there is certainly much, much more in store for us, and I am so excited to see how that plays out next semester.
Just as I have been thrilled to cherish my time here, I likewise look forward to cherishing every moment of my time at home. Thoughts of going grocery shopping and understanding where and what everything is; of getting a haircut without fear that a minor mis-translation will end up as a mullet; of ordering in a restaurant and knowing exactly what the waiter will bring -- well, I'd be lying if I said these thoughts weren't grounds for quite a bit of excitement for my return to the States. But more than those conveniences of daily life, I am ecstatic for the refreshment that I know reuniting with you, my precious friends and family, will bring. Skype and e-mail have made communication this semester so much easier, but I haven't forgotten that nothing replaces real, face-to-face, tangible interaction. My Thanksgiving abroad was a wonderful one, but I have no doubt that my ever-nearing Christmas at home will be even better. After all, there really is no place like home for the holidays!
As we gather together this Christmas season, may we remember the glorious birth of our Lord and Savior, the greatest joy the world has ever seen. May we be humbled as the traveling parents, awestruck as the fearful shepherds, and devoted as the searching magi. May we seek wisdom from our Wonderful Counselor, trust in the power of our Mighty God, have faith in the unchanging nature of our Everlasting Father, and find rest in our knowledge of the Prince of Peace. Above all, may we kneel at the manger and worship the Name above all names as we call His name Jesus.
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor,
Mighty God,
Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever."
- Isaiah 9:6-7a
Christmas blessings from far and near to you and all of yours,
Margaret
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Time Flies!
I honestly cannot fathom how quickly the past 2 months have gone.
It seems like just days ago that Jack and I were boarding our flight from IAH, so excited for this year abroad but having absolutely no idea what we were getting ourselves into. Looking back over the past 9 weeks, I see that so much of my life has changed since September 10. Though my time abroad has at times seemed overwhelming, I honestly could not be more thankful for each of the incredible experiences that has brought me here.
I have learned so much since coming to Buenos Aires, it is truly impossible to think of who I would be had I spent the past 2 months anywhere else. Experiencing life as as an "outsider" on the grandest scale -- a foreigner facing cultural differences on seemingly every front -- has taught me to treat those unfamiliar with American customs with respect and kindness, despite the frustration that inevitably arises from a language barrier. Being one of 54 students, all of us with different backgrounds and aspirations, has taught me to appreciate the individuality and diversity that each member can contribute to a group. Relying on public transportation has shown me the value of a solid mental map; likewise, riding Argentine buses and taxis on a daily basis has made me extremely grateful for American traffic laws! Staying with Inés and Gerardo has taught me the true nature of hospitality -- opening a home to someone with open arms, and authentically interacting as a family would. Consuming dulce de leche and empanadas on an almost-daily basis has made me appreciate the "healthy" trends of food in the States. Speaking Spanish on a daily basis has not only given me an incredible respect for the truly bilingual, but has also proven to me the truth behind the saying that "practice makes perfect."
Above all, though, living abroad has helped me understand the true, unfailing love of my God. Seeing His consistency in an ever-changing life has reminded me that it is solely He upon whom I can wholly depend, and solely He in whom I can wholly trust. I have never been more grateful for the constant nature of my Heavenly Father than in the times when seemingly everything is unfamiliar! By His grace, I have come to truly love this city, these people, this language. I feel so at home in Buenos Aires, and I treasure the time I have spent here already. Likewise, I am indescribably excited for the rest of my time abroad. As a new creation in Christ, I am allowed to reinvent myself, despite the flaws of my past, as often as I must. Learning to utilize this "newness," both externally and internally, and with great intentionality, is something I must enact on a daily basis. I look to the future, holding tight to the lessons I have already learned and seeking to fulfill the purpose of my time here with each situation I encounter.
"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
- Philippians 3:10-14
I hope this finds each of you doing well, and I look forward to seeing y'all during my time home at Christmas. T-minus 30 days till I'm back in the States!
Abrazos from Abroad,
Margaret
P.S. Here are links to the pictures I've been promising since... well, Post #1? So sorry it's taken me eternity to post them. Y'all enjoy!
Pictures from Peru/Machu Picchu
Pictures from Buenos Aires and our EFT to Salta/Jujuy
It seems like just days ago that Jack and I were boarding our flight from IAH, so excited for this year abroad but having absolutely no idea what we were getting ourselves into. Looking back over the past 9 weeks, I see that so much of my life has changed since September 10. Though my time abroad has at times seemed overwhelming, I honestly could not be more thankful for each of the incredible experiences that has brought me here.
I have learned so much since coming to Buenos Aires, it is truly impossible to think of who I would be had I spent the past 2 months anywhere else. Experiencing life as as an "outsider" on the grandest scale -- a foreigner facing cultural differences on seemingly every front -- has taught me to treat those unfamiliar with American customs with respect and kindness, despite the frustration that inevitably arises from a language barrier. Being one of 54 students, all of us with different backgrounds and aspirations, has taught me to appreciate the individuality and diversity that each member can contribute to a group. Relying on public transportation has shown me the value of a solid mental map; likewise, riding Argentine buses and taxis on a daily basis has made me extremely grateful for American traffic laws! Staying with Inés and Gerardo has taught me the true nature of hospitality -- opening a home to someone with open arms, and authentically interacting as a family would. Consuming dulce de leche and empanadas on an almost-daily basis has made me appreciate the "healthy" trends of food in the States. Speaking Spanish on a daily basis has not only given me an incredible respect for the truly bilingual, but has also proven to me the truth behind the saying that "practice makes perfect."
Above all, though, living abroad has helped me understand the true, unfailing love of my God. Seeing His consistency in an ever-changing life has reminded me that it is solely He upon whom I can wholly depend, and solely He in whom I can wholly trust. I have never been more grateful for the constant nature of my Heavenly Father than in the times when seemingly everything is unfamiliar! By His grace, I have come to truly love this city, these people, this language. I feel so at home in Buenos Aires, and I treasure the time I have spent here already. Likewise, I am indescribably excited for the rest of my time abroad. As a new creation in Christ, I am allowed to reinvent myself, despite the flaws of my past, as often as I must. Learning to utilize this "newness," both externally and internally, and with great intentionality, is something I must enact on a daily basis. I look to the future, holding tight to the lessons I have already learned and seeking to fulfill the purpose of my time here with each situation I encounter.
"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
- Philippians 3:10-14
I hope this finds each of you doing well, and I look forward to seeing y'all during my time home at Christmas. T-minus 30 days till I'm back in the States!
Abrazos from Abroad,
Margaret
P.S. Here are links to the pictures I've been promising since... well, Post #1? So sorry it's taken me eternity to post them. Y'all enjoy!
Pictures from Peru/Machu Picchu
Pictures from Buenos Aires and our EFT to Salta/Jujuy
Thursday, October 8, 2009
EPIC. (Playing Catch-Up, part 2)
The final installment of the past 3 weeks' catch-up blogging.
________________________________________
Tuesday, September 29 - Monday, October 5
Since choosing Argentina for my study abroad locale, my dreams of traversing a brand new continent have been endless. This summer, Brittany and I decided that Machu Picchu would be a good place to initiate a memorable (epic) semester of South American travel. On Tuesday afternoon, we flew from EZE (Buenos Aires' Int'l Airport) to Lima, Peru, where we met up with Brittany's boyfriend (a senior at Pepperdine), Michael Brinley. Since our flights didn't get into Lima until around 9 on Tuesday night and we flew out again early Wednesday morning, we'd planned to spend Tuesday night in the Lima airport. Once Milo caught wind of this idea, however, his super-parenting skills kicked in and he immediately booked us a room at the Sheraton Hotel, 15 minutes from the Lima airport. I was grateful for his intervention from the get-go, but after arriving in Lima, I realized that sleeping in the airport would have been borderline disastrous. Lima is a sketchy city by night (it made us very grateful to be living in Buenos Aires), and there's a prominent ring of passport thieves that dominates much of the airport happenings. Needless to say, the Sheraton was a great move on Dad's part, and we were all quite excited to find a bit of American hospitality right in the middle of Peru.
We arrived in Cusco about 11:30 Wednesday morning and were met at the airport by Juan Carlos, a member of the church Michael's aunt and uncle started during their mission to Peru several years ago. Juan Carlos took us to his apartment (into which, we soon learned, he'd moved only the day before!), where we met his precious wife Denise and their 4-month-old daughter Milka. Since Cusco sits at an 11,000ft altitude, we spent most of our first day acclimating (i.e. resting, devouring traditional 3-course Peruvian "menu" for lunch, drinking oodles of coca tea, etc.). In the early evening, Juan Carlos insisted we go see the city's main plaza. Though the locals definitely cater to tourists there, much of the area's original charm has been preserved. Giant cathedrals decked out in gold and silver pay tribute to the conquistadors' crusades, and local vendors sell authentic Peruvian alpaca in more forms than we could've imagined. In the end, we enjoyed the main square so much that we spent all of Thursday there as well, touring more of the cathedrals and soaking up as much of its cusqueño charm as we could!
On Friday the 2nd we woke up at 5am, caught the 6:30 train from Poroy (20 minutes outside Cusco) to Aguas Calientes, and headed out to Machu Picchu. The scenery of the 3-hour train ride was some of the most beautiful (epic) I've ever seen; the entire trip took us through the breathtaking Andes and followed the Urubamba River past Incan ruins, glacial passes, and into the Andean jungle. Once we arrived in Aguas Calientes and checked into our hostel, we set out on a 3-hour hike up a nearby mountain called Putucusi. We were told the hike was beginner/intermediate level and had "a few ladders" to climb; we quickly learned, however, that said evaluation of the hike was highly inaccurate. The hike consisted of treacherous stone steps, and the aforementioned ladders stretched upwards of 100 feet, totally vertical. We doubted our abilities at first, but thanks to Michael's pep-talk skills, Britt and I toughed it out and hiked the entire mountain. Upon reaching Putucusi's summit, we were all in agreement that whatever fears we faced during the trek were well worth the hike's final result: a complete bird's-eye view of Machu Picchu. We spent a while atop the mountain, speechless at the incredible beauty that surrounded us. Witnessing the Andes' majesty and magnitude first-hand was truly overwhelming. Our God is so big, even such breathtaking creation is only a glimpse of His majesty!
"And these are but the outer fringe of his works;
how faint the whisper we hear of him!
Who then can understand the thunder of his power?"
- Job 26:14
We went to bed early that night, partly due to exhaustion from our intense (epic) hike, and partly due to anticipation for the early morning ahead of us.
Our 4am wake-up call on Saturday morning was a brutal one, but it did little to deter our excitement for the incredible (epic) adventure that awaited us. We caught the 2nd bus up the neighboring mountain and arrived at Machu Picchu by 6am. Watching the sun rise above the Andes was the most beautiful thing I've ever witnessed (debatably, even more impressive than seeing Machu Picchu itself). While the sheer magnitude of the mountains was incredible, knowledge of the history they possessed furthered their grandeur. Though we perpetually attempted to immortalize the site and its setting via camera lens, we knew no picture could capture the essence of our surroundings. We discussed the following passage from Romans 1 and wondered how the Incans could live in such an amazing place yet find it possible to deny the existence of such an evident God. All in all, it was an incredible paradox, seeing such an incredible manifestation of the glory of God, yet experiencing it from a historical site of pagan worship.
"The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men [...] since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."
- Romans 1:18-20
We spent the whole morning touring the Incan ruins at Machu Picchu and enjoying the glorious nature around us. By 9am, Britt and I were feeling sick (probably due to something sketchy we'd eaten in the past 48 hours), so we napped on one of Machu Picchu's terraced (epic) lawns while he hiked the neighboring mountain of Wayna Picchu. He returned a few hours later and, in true, encouraging Michael fashion, told us that though his hike had been neat (epic), our hike up Putucusi the day before had been more difficult/impressive, which temporarily lessened our food-poisoned frustration.
We returned to Aguas Calientes by lunch time and headed back to Cusco that evening, spent one more night with Juan Carlos and Denise, and flew out to Lima the Sunday morning. Though our 8-hour layover on Sunday and 4:30am arrival in BA on Monday (just in time for 9am class!) were less than ideal, they hardly put a damper on our time in Peru.
I've heard Machu Picchu described as a "once-in-a-lifetime" experience, but I sincerely hope I can someday return to the Andes, to be so powerfully reminded of the magnitude of the God we serve and the beauty of His divine (epic) plan for all of creation.
Saturday, October 10
To celebrate my one-month anniversary of life in Buenos Aires, I attended my first Latin American soccer game today. And, in continuation with last week's events, it was (you guessed it) epic. I don't even like soccer, but the atmosphere/my excitement regarding this 2009 World Cup qualifier was up there with that of Kyle Field on Thanksgiving day. I, along with Brittany, her mom and aunt (who are visiting for the week), and 15 other Pepperdine students, had no idea what I was in for when I bought a ticket to the game this weekend. The whole Argentine crowd obviously knew we weren't "from around here," but they were nonetheless so excited for us to be cheering their team on to victory. Upon Argentina's first goal, the crowd exploded with cheers, hugging and high-fiving everyone in sight. By the time the second period was in play, though, the mood had changed and ominous clouds had rolled in above River Plate stadium, and with about 20 minutes left in the game, a torrential downpour began. We stuck it out for a long while, but I'll choose the policy of honesty here and confess that I pulled a 2%er and left early (however, I blame it fully on the fact that there's neither a scoreboard nor game clock in the whole stadium). So though there were less than 4 minutes left in the game when the rain became too much to take, our ignorance got the best of us and we decided to head out. Unexpectedly, Peru (the worst team in the bracket) scored shortly after we exited the stadium. The game, however, was far from over.
What followed can be best summed up through the following video:
Palermo scores OT goal, leads Argentine to win 2-1 over Peru
I still can't believe I missed it, and no, I don't want to talk about it.
All I can say is look for us in the World Cup finals, and don't say I didn't warn you.
¡Vamos, vamos, Argentina!
________________________________________
Alas, the catching up is over. Thanks for bearing with me!
(epic) Abrazos from abroad,
Margaret
________________________________________
Tuesday, September 29 - Monday, October 5
Since choosing Argentina for my study abroad locale, my dreams of traversing a brand new continent have been endless. This summer, Brittany and I decided that Machu Picchu would be a good place to initiate a memorable (epic) semester of South American travel. On Tuesday afternoon, we flew from EZE (Buenos Aires' Int'l Airport) to Lima, Peru, where we met up with Brittany's boyfriend (a senior at Pepperdine), Michael Brinley. Since our flights didn't get into Lima until around 9 on Tuesday night and we flew out again early Wednesday morning, we'd planned to spend Tuesday night in the Lima airport. Once Milo caught wind of this idea, however, his super-parenting skills kicked in and he immediately booked us a room at the Sheraton Hotel, 15 minutes from the Lima airport. I was grateful for his intervention from the get-go, but after arriving in Lima, I realized that sleeping in the airport would have been borderline disastrous. Lima is a sketchy city by night (it made us very grateful to be living in Buenos Aires), and there's a prominent ring of passport thieves that dominates much of the airport happenings. Needless to say, the Sheraton was a great move on Dad's part, and we were all quite excited to find a bit of American hospitality right in the middle of Peru.
We arrived in Cusco about 11:30 Wednesday morning and were met at the airport by Juan Carlos, a member of the church Michael's aunt and uncle started during their mission to Peru several years ago. Juan Carlos took us to his apartment (into which, we soon learned, he'd moved only the day before!), where we met his precious wife Denise and their 4-month-old daughter Milka. Since Cusco sits at an 11,000ft altitude, we spent most of our first day acclimating (i.e. resting, devouring traditional 3-course Peruvian "menu" for lunch, drinking oodles of coca tea, etc.). In the early evening, Juan Carlos insisted we go see the city's main plaza. Though the locals definitely cater to tourists there, much of the area's original charm has been preserved. Giant cathedrals decked out in gold and silver pay tribute to the conquistadors' crusades, and local vendors sell authentic Peruvian alpaca in more forms than we could've imagined. In the end, we enjoyed the main square so much that we spent all of Thursday there as well, touring more of the cathedrals and soaking up as much of its cusqueño charm as we could!
On Friday the 2nd we woke up at 5am, caught the 6:30 train from Poroy (20 minutes outside Cusco) to Aguas Calientes, and headed out to Machu Picchu. The scenery of the 3-hour train ride was some of the most beautiful (epic) I've ever seen; the entire trip took us through the breathtaking Andes and followed the Urubamba River past Incan ruins, glacial passes, and into the Andean jungle. Once we arrived in Aguas Calientes and checked into our hostel, we set out on a 3-hour hike up a nearby mountain called Putucusi. We were told the hike was beginner/intermediate level and had "a few ladders" to climb; we quickly learned, however, that said evaluation of the hike was highly inaccurate. The hike consisted of treacherous stone steps, and the aforementioned ladders stretched upwards of 100 feet, totally vertical. We doubted our abilities at first, but thanks to Michael's pep-talk skills, Britt and I toughed it out and hiked the entire mountain. Upon reaching Putucusi's summit, we were all in agreement that whatever fears we faced during the trek were well worth the hike's final result: a complete bird's-eye view of Machu Picchu. We spent a while atop the mountain, speechless at the incredible beauty that surrounded us. Witnessing the Andes' majesty and magnitude first-hand was truly overwhelming. Our God is so big, even such breathtaking creation is only a glimpse of His majesty!
"And these are but the outer fringe of his works;
how faint the whisper we hear of him!
Who then can understand the thunder of his power?"
- Job 26:14
We went to bed early that night, partly due to exhaustion from our intense (epic) hike, and partly due to anticipation for the early morning ahead of us.
Our 4am wake-up call on Saturday morning was a brutal one, but it did little to deter our excitement for the incredible (epic) adventure that awaited us. We caught the 2nd bus up the neighboring mountain and arrived at Machu Picchu by 6am. Watching the sun rise above the Andes was the most beautiful thing I've ever witnessed (debatably, even more impressive than seeing Machu Picchu itself). While the sheer magnitude of the mountains was incredible, knowledge of the history they possessed furthered their grandeur. Though we perpetually attempted to immortalize the site and its setting via camera lens, we knew no picture could capture the essence of our surroundings. We discussed the following passage from Romans 1 and wondered how the Incans could live in such an amazing place yet find it possible to deny the existence of such an evident God. All in all, it was an incredible paradox, seeing such an incredible manifestation of the glory of God, yet experiencing it from a historical site of pagan worship.
"The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men [...] since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."
- Romans 1:18-20
We spent the whole morning touring the Incan ruins at Machu Picchu and enjoying the glorious nature around us. By 9am, Britt and I were feeling sick (probably due to something sketchy we'd eaten in the past 48 hours), so we napped on one of Machu Picchu's terraced (epic) lawns while he hiked the neighboring mountain of Wayna Picchu. He returned a few hours later and, in true, encouraging Michael fashion, told us that though his hike had been neat (epic), our hike up Putucusi the day before had been more difficult/impressive, which temporarily lessened our food-poisoned frustration.
We returned to Aguas Calientes by lunch time and headed back to Cusco that evening, spent one more night with Juan Carlos and Denise, and flew out to Lima the Sunday morning. Though our 8-hour layover on Sunday and 4:30am arrival in BA on Monday (just in time for 9am class!) were less than ideal, they hardly put a damper on our time in Peru.
I've heard Machu Picchu described as a "once-in-a-lifetime" experience, but I sincerely hope I can someday return to the Andes, to be so powerfully reminded of the magnitude of the God we serve and the beauty of His divine (epic) plan for all of creation.
Saturday, October 10
To celebrate my one-month anniversary of life in Buenos Aires, I attended my first Latin American soccer game today. And, in continuation with last week's events, it was (you guessed it) epic. I don't even like soccer, but the atmosphere/my excitement regarding this 2009 World Cup qualifier was up there with that of Kyle Field on Thanksgiving day. I, along with Brittany, her mom and aunt (who are visiting for the week), and 15 other Pepperdine students, had no idea what I was in for when I bought a ticket to the game this weekend. The whole Argentine crowd obviously knew we weren't "from around here," but they were nonetheless so excited for us to be cheering their team on to victory. Upon Argentina's first goal, the crowd exploded with cheers, hugging and high-fiving everyone in sight. By the time the second period was in play, though, the mood had changed and ominous clouds had rolled in above River Plate stadium, and with about 20 minutes left in the game, a torrential downpour began. We stuck it out for a long while, but I'll choose the policy of honesty here and confess that I pulled a 2%er and left early (however, I blame it fully on the fact that there's neither a scoreboard nor game clock in the whole stadium). So though there were less than 4 minutes left in the game when the rain became too much to take, our ignorance got the best of us and we decided to head out. Unexpectedly, Peru (the worst team in the bracket) scored shortly after we exited the stadium. The game, however, was far from over.
What followed can be best summed up through the following video:
Palermo scores OT goal, leads Argentine to win 2-1 over Peru
I still can't believe I missed it, and no, I don't want to talk about it.
All I can say is look for us in the World Cup finals, and don't say I didn't warn you.
¡Vamos, vamos, Argentina!
________________________________________
Alas, the catching up is over. Thanks for bearing with me!
(epic) Abrazos from abroad,
Margaret
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Playing Catch-Up
I can't believe it's been almost 3 weeks since my last post. I despise having to mass-quantity catch-up blog, but I think at this point it's my best bet for covering so much ground.
Bear with me...
________________________________________
Monday, September 21
For the majority of you, today marked the first day of fall. Here in the Southern Hemisphere, however, it was a national holiday celebrating the first day of la primavera. And quite a celebration it was! I went to the cleaners to pick up my laundry and was warmly greeted with a highly enthusiastic "¡Feliz primavera!" (which was an especially notable experience at 8:30 a.m., as the locals generally can't muster up the energy for a smile until sometime after noon), two loads of clothes smelling especially springtime fresh, and, to top it all off, a complimentary fuchsia petunia plant. I brought the flower home and gave it to Inés, only to find she'd brought me a flower as well. We exchanged flores and besos, and I headed off to school with an extra bit of "spring" in my step... despite the fact that Pepperdine is legitimately the only school in all of Buenos Aires that had class today. (Our academic calendar follows American holidays; we have breaks for Thanksgiving, etc., but because of those, have to miss out on some of the Argentine holidays like today.) Walking to my bus stop, it seemed as though every store window was dressed to the nines with flower shaped di-cuts and brightly colored letters announcing the arrival of this city's favorite season. Though Inés had warned me not to get my hopes up for good weather (apparently their first-day-of-spring luck is a lot like our spring break luck... when everyone's finally out of school and ready to play, the rain rolls in and stays just until class starts back up again), today was GORGEOUS. Sunshine, cool air, and not a cloud in the sky -- it really was the perfect start to a new season!
The Argentine excitement regarding the start of spring reminded me just how wonderful new beginnings are. Though we are capable of telling ourselves we are "too far gone" in any of a million different scenarios, the truth is that a fresh start is never far away. Praise be to God, for he makes all things new!
"...Put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires, [...] be made new in the attitude of your minds, [and] put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."
- Ephesians 4:22b-23
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"
- 2 Corinthians 5:17
Wednesday, September 23
Every student at Pepperdine is required to complete 14 hours of convocation credit each semester. At the Malibu campus, attendance of weekly chapels, seminars, lectures, and Bible studies can all count toward these "Convo" credits. Due to our limited staff abroad, however, our Convo credits are harder to come by. Thus, every Wednesday night is a designated Convo night. The whole group looks forward to this weekly opportunity for us to gather at Casa Holden, hear a guest speaker's presentation (generally something along the lines of expanding horizons/crossing boundaries/changing lives/inspiration 101), and dine on Pepperdine's (our tuition's?) tab afterward. Tonight, however, in lieu of a guest speaker, we headed out to Tango Porteño dinner theater for an authentic Argentine cuisine and tango show experience. The passion of the dancers and their connection to their partners, the music, and the history their dance represented was truly incredible. Though the tango is the iconic dance of Argentina, these days it is kept alive mostly through the older generations and for the sake of tourism; thus, our evening at Tango Porteño allowed us to see a part of Argentine history that we don't get to see in our everyday interactions.
I still have so much to learn about this country, but with each new experience I find a better understanding of who these people are and how I can connect to them. The more I open I am to the Argentine culture, the richer my time here will be!
Saturday, September 26
Rafael ("Rafa") DeSanso has been the director of Pepperdine's international program in BA for over 10 years. Best known for his 40+ year-old bachelor status, hilarious knack for nick-naming students in the program, and extensive connections throughout Argentina, Rafa is truly a legend in the Pepperdine community. There are countless stories of his networking capabilities acting as a student's saving grace -- lost passports, stolen laptops, and the like have miraculously made their ways back into Rafa's hands and have been safely returned to their respective owners. Hence, we refer to Rafa, Pato, Maria, and Susi (the other administrators at Pepperdine BA) as "The Rafia," because seriously... they are capable of some uncanny things, for all of which we are extremely grateful!
Anywho, due to his youth-at-heart, current students and program alumni alike were shocked when Rafa announced last year that he had fallen in love with and and proposed to the principal of his niece & nephew's school. We all knew Agustina must have been something special to cause such a change of heart in Rafa and were so excited to find out that the wedding would be taking place during our time here. We just assumed, until a week or two ago, that pictures and stories would have to suffice... having no idea that all 54 of us would be invited to share in the biggest day of Rafa's life so soon after meeting him.
The wedding was today and was, in all honesty, one of the most beautiful ceremonies I've ever attended. Held in the cathedral on the grounds of the school where Rafa and Agus met, the service highlighted everything the couple holds dear: their families, their faith, and the children in their lives. Instead of a bridal party, Agus was preceded by 15 precious little children, symbolizing not only what brought her and Rafa together, but their desire to maintain the innocence and honesty of children through their love as well. All of the couple's siblings read scripture during the service and prayed over their marriage. Though guided by Roman Catholic tradition, the wedding ceremony was so personal, and seeing Rafa nervous (TOTALLY uncharacteristic) and so in love was so incredible; I'm not sure there was a dry eye in the house when it was all said and done! The acoustics in the chapel were breathtaking; not a single soloist used a microphone, yet "Ave Maria" and "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee" have never sounded clearer or more beautiful. To make the experience even more personal, many of Rafa's friends from Pepperdine, including Charles Hall (the Dean of Int'l Programs), were at the wedding; it was such a neat time for us to spend time with other members of Pepperdine administration and to experience such a unique element of Argentine culture with them.
Though we'll miss Rafa terribly during his 2-week honeymoon, we could not be more excited for this wonderful time in his life. And while we still don't understand how we were lucky enough to be the students here during his wedding, I am certain it's an experience none of us will soon forget!
"God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."
- 1 John 4:16b-18
________________________________________
Thanks for hanging on through the catch-up! :)
Abrazos from abroad,
Margaret
Bear with me...
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Monday, September 21
For the majority of you, today marked the first day of fall. Here in the Southern Hemisphere, however, it was a national holiday celebrating the first day of la primavera. And quite a celebration it was! I went to the cleaners to pick up my laundry and was warmly greeted with a highly enthusiastic "¡Feliz primavera!" (which was an especially notable experience at 8:30 a.m., as the locals generally can't muster up the energy for a smile until sometime after noon), two loads of clothes smelling especially springtime fresh, and, to top it all off, a complimentary fuchsia petunia plant. I brought the flower home and gave it to Inés, only to find she'd brought me a flower as well. We exchanged flores and besos, and I headed off to school with an extra bit of "spring" in my step... despite the fact that Pepperdine is legitimately the only school in all of Buenos Aires that had class today. (Our academic calendar follows American holidays; we have breaks for Thanksgiving, etc., but because of those, have to miss out on some of the Argentine holidays like today.) Walking to my bus stop, it seemed as though every store window was dressed to the nines with flower shaped di-cuts and brightly colored letters announcing the arrival of this city's favorite season. Though Inés had warned me not to get my hopes up for good weather (apparently their first-day-of-spring luck is a lot like our spring break luck... when everyone's finally out of school and ready to play, the rain rolls in and stays just until class starts back up again), today was GORGEOUS. Sunshine, cool air, and not a cloud in the sky -- it really was the perfect start to a new season!
The Argentine excitement regarding the start of spring reminded me just how wonderful new beginnings are. Though we are capable of telling ourselves we are "too far gone" in any of a million different scenarios, the truth is that a fresh start is never far away. Praise be to God, for he makes all things new!
"...Put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires, [...] be made new in the attitude of your minds, [and] put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness."
- Ephesians 4:22b-23
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"
- 2 Corinthians 5:17
Wednesday, September 23
Every student at Pepperdine is required to complete 14 hours of convocation credit each semester. At the Malibu campus, attendance of weekly chapels, seminars, lectures, and Bible studies can all count toward these "Convo" credits. Due to our limited staff abroad, however, our Convo credits are harder to come by. Thus, every Wednesday night is a designated Convo night. The whole group looks forward to this weekly opportunity for us to gather at Casa Holden, hear a guest speaker's presentation (generally something along the lines of expanding horizons/crossing boundaries/changing lives/inspiration 101), and dine on Pepperdine's (our tuition's?) tab afterward. Tonight, however, in lieu of a guest speaker, we headed out to Tango Porteño dinner theater for an authentic Argentine cuisine and tango show experience. The passion of the dancers and their connection to their partners, the music, and the history their dance represented was truly incredible. Though the tango is the iconic dance of Argentina, these days it is kept alive mostly through the older generations and for the sake of tourism; thus, our evening at Tango Porteño allowed us to see a part of Argentine history that we don't get to see in our everyday interactions.
I still have so much to learn about this country, but with each new experience I find a better understanding of who these people are and how I can connect to them. The more I open I am to the Argentine culture, the richer my time here will be!
Saturday, September 26
Rafael ("Rafa") DeSanso has been the director of Pepperdine's international program in BA for over 10 years. Best known for his 40+ year-old bachelor status, hilarious knack for nick-naming students in the program, and extensive connections throughout Argentina, Rafa is truly a legend in the Pepperdine community. There are countless stories of his networking capabilities acting as a student's saving grace -- lost passports, stolen laptops, and the like have miraculously made their ways back into Rafa's hands and have been safely returned to their respective owners. Hence, we refer to Rafa, Pato, Maria, and Susi (the other administrators at Pepperdine BA) as "The Rafia," because seriously... they are capable of some uncanny things, for all of which we are extremely grateful!
Anywho, due to his youth-at-heart, current students and program alumni alike were shocked when Rafa announced last year that he had fallen in love with and and proposed to the principal of his niece & nephew's school. We all knew Agustina must have been something special to cause such a change of heart in Rafa and were so excited to find out that the wedding would be taking place during our time here. We just assumed, until a week or two ago, that pictures and stories would have to suffice... having no idea that all 54 of us would be invited to share in the biggest day of Rafa's life so soon after meeting him.
The wedding was today and was, in all honesty, one of the most beautiful ceremonies I've ever attended. Held in the cathedral on the grounds of the school where Rafa and Agus met, the service highlighted everything the couple holds dear: their families, their faith, and the children in their lives. Instead of a bridal party, Agus was preceded by 15 precious little children, symbolizing not only what brought her and Rafa together, but their desire to maintain the innocence and honesty of children through their love as well. All of the couple's siblings read scripture during the service and prayed over their marriage. Though guided by Roman Catholic tradition, the wedding ceremony was so personal, and seeing Rafa nervous (TOTALLY uncharacteristic) and so in love was so incredible; I'm not sure there was a dry eye in the house when it was all said and done! The acoustics in the chapel were breathtaking; not a single soloist used a microphone, yet "Ave Maria" and "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee" have never sounded clearer or more beautiful. To make the experience even more personal, many of Rafa's friends from Pepperdine, including Charles Hall (the Dean of Int'l Programs), were at the wedding; it was such a neat time for us to spend time with other members of Pepperdine administration and to experience such a unique element of Argentine culture with them.
Though we'll miss Rafa terribly during his 2-week honeymoon, we could not be more excited for this wonderful time in his life. And while we still don't understand how we were lucky enough to be the students here during his wedding, I am certain it's an experience none of us will soon forget!
"God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."
- 1 John 4:16b-18
________________________________________
Thanks for hanging on through the catch-up! :)
Abrazos from abroad,
Margaret
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